Iran Vows Retaliation After Assassination of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh

TEHRAN – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that Iran will avenge the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. The assassination, which took place on Iranian soil, has escalated tensions in the region.

“You killed our dear guest in our house and now have paved the way for your harsh punishment,” Khamenei stated, addressing Israel directly. “We consider it our duty to ask for the blood of our dear guest.”

Iran’s newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian also paid tribute to Haniyeh, honoring him as a “brave leader of the Palestinian resistance.” Pezeshkian expressed his sorrow and commitment to Haniyeh’s legacy.

“Today, Iran mourns its sharer of sorrows and joys, the proud companion of the path of resistance, the martyr of al-Quds, Haj Ismail Haniyeh,” Pezeshkian said. “Yesterday, I raised his victorious hand, and today, I must carry him on my shoulders to bury.”

Pezeshkian emphasized the enduring bond between Iran and Palestine. He pledged that the path of resistance and defense of the oppressed will continue stronger than ever.

Iran has vowed to defend its territorial integrity and ensure that the perpetrators regret their actions. The Palestinian militant group Hamas confirmed that Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike on his residence.

While the Israeli military has declined to comment, senior officials have launched a relentless bombing campaign on Gaza. The stated aim is to eliminate Hamas following the events of October 7.

Haniyeh had been in Tehran to attend President Pezeshkian’s inauguration and to hold talks with Iranian leaders. His presence in parliament on Tuesday for the formal swearing-in underscored his significance in Gaza ceasefire and hostage negotiations.

Key figures, including the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and former President Hassan Rouhani, attended the inauguration. Iran, a key supporter of Hamas, is now mourning the loss of one of its prominent allies.

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